Wheel.



' No. 649,l76.

w. w. RATHBUN.

Patented May "8, I900.

W HE E L (Applicatibzi filed Apr. 27, .1898.)

' 2 SheeIs-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

W/wM 74f Kai/ M004 co PHcYaMmmwwmc-ron u c No.-649,I76. Patented May 8,I900. W. W. BATHBUN.

WHEEL (Application filed Apr. 27, 189B.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet z,

m; mums PETERS 00.. PuomuTHOq Wnsumn'mu. DV 6.

UNITED STATES.

P TENT FFICE.

WILLIAM IV. RATIIBUN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WHEEL.

EPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,17 6, dated May 8,1900.

Application filed April 27, 1898. Serial No. 679,019. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM W. RATHBUN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago,Co ok county, Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in WVheels, of which the followingis a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon;

My invention relates more particularly to improvements inbicycle-wheels, although obviously adapted for wheels of other kinds ofvehicles; and its object is to obtain the necessary resiliency and yieldto the tread of the wheel without resorting to the use of pneumatictires. By dispensing with the pneumatic tire the danger andinconvenience of punctures are avoided, and yet the ease and comfort dueto their use are fully attained.

after fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my invention. Fig. 2 is atransverse section taken on a radial plane through the outer or rimportion of the wheel. of a segment of said wheel.

Fig. 3 is a side view Fig. 4 is a plan view of a section of thereinforcing metal facing of the outer ring of the annular guide.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the section of the elastic rim of thewheel. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the upper half of a wheelhavinga modified construction of my inven-.

tion. Fig. 7 is a side view of a segment of the wheel shown in Fig. 6.of a segment of a wheel embodying yet another modification of myinvention, and Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the hub and centralportion of the same.

Reference being. had to the drawings, A represents the tire of myimproved wheel, which may either be of the kind known as solid tires orcushioned tires, made of rubber or other suitable, material.

B represents the elastic rim, and it consists of a flat band of suitablewidth made, preferably, of band-saw steel, having lugs a a projecting inan outwardly direction from Fig. Sis a side vieweach side edge thereofand arranged in pairs located opposite each other in the same transverseplane. These lugs are of such a length that they can be doubled backupon themselves, so that their end edges approach near each other at apoint in front of and against the outer or convex side of the rim, andthus doubled are suitably curved so as to conform to the segment of thetire nearest the center of the wheel in order to provide a seat for andretain the same in position.

Rim B is preferably reinforced by a suite able supplemental wood rib a,secured to the inner circumference or concaved surface thereof, and by asupplemental strip of bandsaw steel or other suitable metal curved tothe innercircumference of said wood rim b. This exact construction ofthe rim with its reinforcements, however, may be modified as desired, solong as it retains its elasticity.

-D represents the hub, and d the spokes, of the wheel, which latter, asshown in the drawings, may be arranged tangentially or radially, asdesired. Spokes 01 do not extend nor' arethey secured to the rim B, butare eorre spondingly shortened and secured to the me tallie band E,secured flat against the outer circumference of the annular guide-rim F.A section of this band E is shown in Fig.4, and it will be noticed thatit is provided with laterally projecting lugs e, which are arranged atequal intervals apart and alternately, first on one side and then theother I of the band and to which said spokesare suitably secured. Thisannular guidemim F may consist of asingle rigid band of wood, as

will hereinafter more fully appear; but I pre fer to make the same oftwo parallel concentric bands of wood f and g, which are separated byspacing-sleeves G, arranged at equal distances apart, and are heldtogether by tubular screws h and i, that pass through suitable openingsin said bandsf andg and have their screw-threaded ends engage theinteriorly-screw-threaded endsof the said. sleeve, alining with saidopenings. In order that this union of the two wooden bands may besatisfactorily made, it is necessary that one of these tubular screws hor 2' be provided with a right-hand screw-thread and the other with aleft-hand screw-thread and the exteriorof said sleeve be made ofpolygonal shape, so as to afford a grasp for a wrench or other device toturn it or tighten the same. The outer elastic rim of the wheel isconnected with the guide-rim by radial rods 1, which have their outerends suitably secured in suitably-shaped nipples 7c. The inner portionsof the shafts of these rods extend through the tubular screws 7117:,before referred to, and their inner ends nearest the center of the wheelextend through and terminate at a point just beyond the inner woodenband of the guide-rim and are swaged orheaded, as shown.

In use the distance between the outer circumference of the rigidguide-rim and the elastic outer rim of the wheel is about an inch, andabout the same distance separates the two wooden bands of which theguiderim is composed. The radial rods are originally so adjusted bymanipulating the nipples 7.: that their headed inner ends normally bearagainst the head of the inner tubular screw h. V

In operation the weight on the wheel causes the supporting-segment ofits elastic rim to give or bend upward as the wheel rolls along, andparticularly when it passes over uneven surfaces or obstacles. Thiscauses the radial rod or rods substantially in line with the point ofground-contact and the center of the wheel to move radially inwardtoward the center of revolution, and this to a corresponding extentcauses the strain resulting from the circular displacement of thelowermost segment of said elastic rim to pull outward upon the portionof the same below the horizontal plane intersecting the center of thewheel.

In order to prevent debris getting under the head on the inner end ofthe radial reciprocal rods, I provide cup-shaped dust-caps m, which arescrewed onto the screw-threaded edges of the head of the inner tubularscrew 7L and over the head of the rods and are of such length as topermit of the maximum reciprocal throw of the same.

In Fig. 6 I show a modified construction of my invention. Theconstruction of the outer elastic rim A of this modification issubstantially the same as the rim hereinbefore described. The annularguide rim F, however, is preferably made of a single band of solid orlaminated wood and is held in position by tangentially or radiallyarranged spokes d. The inner ends of these spokes are secured to the endflanges ofthe hub L of the wheel. This hub L is provided with acentrally-arranged circumferential web Z, the outer circumferential edgeof which is flanged laterally on each side, so that in crosssection itdescribes a T. Next its outer flanged edge this web is provided with aseries of radially-elongated openings m, which correspond in number toand are in radial alinement with the radially-arranged reciprocal rodsM. The outer ends of these rods M are adj ustably secured by nipples Jto the outer elastic rim A in the same manner as are the radial rods I,hereinbefore alluded to, and the inner ends of these rods pass throughsuitable openings in the flanged edge of the said circumferential web Z,which communicate with the elongated openings m therein and are headedin any suitable manner, so as to prevent their removal. The guide-rim Fserves both as a brace and a guiding device'for these radial rods M,which latter operate in substantially the same manner as the said radialrods I, excepting that they do not serve in any way to impart the straindue to the displacement of the outer rim, as it rolls over the ground,to the guide-rim, but throw such strain primarily wholly upon the hub ofthe wheel. If desired, the radial rods I of the wheel shown in the firstfive figures of the drawings could be used in conjunction with theradially-reciprocal rods M of the said modification, substantially asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In Fig. 8 I show yet another modification of my invention. Thismodification is substantially like that shown in Fig. 6, except- ,ingthat its inner end instead of terminating outside the hub extendsthrough and terminates within the barrel of the same. In order toaccomplish this, I provide the hub O with a series ofcircumferentiallyarranged screw-threaded holes about its center oflength and screw into each of these holes 0 a corresponding series ofnipples 19, through which the inner ends of the radially-arrangedreciprocal rods X pass. These rods X are substantially shown in Fig. 6,and their inner ends are headed, so as to prevent them moving outwardthrough said nipples, which latter are preferably placed thereon beforethey are ,headed. By screwing the inner screw-threaded end of the nippleinto the openings 0 until their inner annular edges bear against theshoulder of the heads of the rods the circularity of the outer elasticrim is obtained. I prefer to provide each of these openings 0 with ashort ontwardly-projecting' their length maybe) which connect the outerelastic rim to the remaining structure of the wheel are properlyadjusted to give perfect circularity to said rim, the heads of the innerends of said reciprocal rods should bear outward against the member orpart of the wheel to which said inner ends connect. Thus a rigid wheelis insured at all times which will not possess any lateral displacement,and yet will provide that quality which will enable the wheel toneutralize the jar incident to irregular surfaces and obstacles overwhich it moves.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination with the hub of a wheel, arigid concentric guide-rim, and spokes connecting said hub andguide-rim, of a concentric endless outer elastic rim, a suitable tiretherefor, and radially arranged reciprocal rods, having their outer endssuitably rigidly secured to said elastic rim, and their inner endsextending through the guide-rim and provided with suitable heads, whichnormally bear outward against a concentricallyarranged circumferentialsurface within the circular plane of said guide-rim.

2. The combination with the h ub of a wheel, a rigid concentricguide-rim, and spokes connecting said hub and guide-rim, of a concentricendless outer elastic rim, a suitable tire therefor,and shortradially-disposed rods having their outer ends suitably rigidly securedto said elastic rim, and their inner ends extending through theguide-rim and provided with suitable heads which normally bear outwardlyagainst the inner circumference of said guide-rim.

3. The combination with the hub of a Wheel, a rigid concentric guide-rimconsisting of two independent circular bands of suitable materialarranged one within the circumferential plane of the other, andseparably connected, and spokes connecting said guide-rim to said hub,of a concentric endless outer elastic rim, a suitable tire therefor, andshort radiallydisposed rods having their outer ends suitably rigidlysecured to said elastic rim, and their inner ends extending through theguiderim and provided with suitable heads which normally bear outwardlyagainst the inner circumference of the innermost of the bands V of saidguide-rim.

4. The combination with the hub of a wheel, a rigid concentric guide-rimconsisting of two independent circular bands of suitable materialarranged one within the other which are separably connected by suitablespacingsleeves having their ends provided respectively with right andleft interior screwthreads, and a right and a left tubular screwextended through the bands of said rim and tapped into said sleeve, andspokes connecting said hub and guide-rim, of a concentric outer elasticrim, a suitable tire therefor, and short radially disposed rods havingtheir outer ends suitably secured to said elastic rim, and their innerends extending through the guide-rim and provided with suitable headswhich normally bear outward against the inner circumference of theinnermost band of said guide-rim.

5. The combination with the hub of a wheel, a rigid concentric guide-rimconsisting of two circular bands of suitable material arranged onewithin the other, and suitable spacingsleeves separably connecting saidbands, and having their ends provided respectively with a right and aleft interior screw-thread, and right and left tubular screws extendedthrough the bands of said guide-rim and tapped into said sleeve, andcaps adjusted over the inner headed ends of the innermost tubular screw,together with spokes connecting said guide-rim and hub, of a concentricouter elastic rim, a suitable tire therefor, and short radially-disposedrods having their outer ends suitably secured to said elastic rim andtheir inner ends extending through the tubular screws and spacing-sleeveof the guide-rim, and provided with suitable heads which normally hearoutward against the head of the innermost of said tubular screws,

6. The combination with the hub of a wheel,

a rigid concentric guide-rim, a metallic reinforcing-band secured to theouter circumfer ence of said guide-rim, having lugs projecting laterallytherefrom, first from one side and then the other, and spokes having oneend connected to said lugs and the other to said hub, of a concentricouter elastic rim, a suitable tire therefor, and radially-arrangedreciprocal rods having their outer ends suitably secured to said elasticrim and their inner ends extending through the guide-rim and providedwith suitable heads which normally bear outward against aconcentricallyarranged circu mferential surface within the circularplane of said guide-rim.

7. The combination with the hub of a wheel, a rigid concentricguide-rim, and spokes connecting said hub and guide-rim, ofa concen tricouter elastic rim made of suitable metal and having lugs projectinglaterally from its side edges which are curved outwardly, asuitable tiresurrounding said rims and retained in position by said lugs, andradially-arranged reciprocal rods having their outer ends suit ablysecured to said elastic rim and their inner ends extending through theguide-rim and provided with suitable heads which normally bear outwardagainst a concentrically arranged circumferential surface Within the circular plane of said guide-rim.

8. The combination with the hub of a wheel, a rigid concentricguide-rim, and spokes connecting said hub and guide-rim, of a concentricouter elastic rim of suitable metal having lugs projecting laterallyfrom its side edges at points opposite each other which are of suchlength that they can be doubled back upon themselves and curved outward,a suitable tire retained by said lugs against the outer circumference ofsaid rim, and radially-arranged reciprocal rods having theirouter endssuitably secured to said elastic rim and their inner ends extendingthrough the guide-rim and provided with suituble heads which normallybear outward against the concentrically-arranged circumferential surfacewithin the circular plane of said guide-rim.

9. The combination with the hub of awheel, a rigid concentric guide-rimconsisting of two bands of suitable material separably connected, of aconcentric elastic rim having lugs projecting from its side edges atpoints opposite I each other which are of such length that they can bedoubled back onto themselves and curved outwardly, a circular layer ofWood connected to the inner circumference of said elastic rim, areinforcing metallic band secured to the inner circumference of saidlayer of wood, and a series of radially-arranged reciprocal rods havingtheir outer ends suitably secured to said elastic rim, and their innerends extended through the guide-rim, and provided with suitable headswhich normally bear outward against the inner circumference of saidguide-rim.

10. The combination with the hub of a Wheel, a rigid concentric guiderim, and spokes connecting the said hub and guiderim, of a concentricouter elastic rim of suitable metal having lugs projecting laterallyfrom its side edges at points opposite each other which are doubled backupon themselves and curved outward, a layer of Wood secured to the innercircumference of said elastic rim and a reinforcing metallic bandsecured to the inner circumference of said layer of wood, a suitabletire held in position against the outer circumference of said elasticrim by said lugs, and radially-arranged rods having their outer endssuitably secured to said elastic rim and their inner ends extendedthrough the guide-rim and provided with suitable heads which normallybear outward against the inner circumference of said guide-rim.

Signed by me this 28th day of March, 1898, at Chicago, Cook county,Illinois.

WILLIAM W. RAlI-IBUN. Witnesses:

SAMUEL DESPRES, FRANK D. THOMASON.

